4. Lesson 1...Part 2

2. The purpose of creation, 1.5-11

Remember that God has a plan. So we have to ask ourselves what that plan is and who that plan involves and why that plan was enacted in the first place. Those are the important questions that we need to ask, and that we do ask, when speaking of creation.

I’ve heard it many times…”Why? Why did God do it, knowing how it all would turn out, and knowing what would be necessary to turn it around? Why would He do such a thing?” Well I’ve given this some thought myself, and I’m going to introduce to you a theory (theology?) that I doubt you have ever heard before! You see, I believe that the idea of creation came to the mind of God as the only solution to the sin problem. Now I can hear you objecting…”no way! Sin did not enter into the equation until after creation, there in the garden!” But I say, “not so!” Sin originated in heaven; sin began in eternity past, and the truth of that statement is very clearly recorded in the word of God by the very Word of God, in His description of events surrounding the rebellion of Satan and his casting-down; down to earth, where he was present there in the garden, before the creation of the first man and the first woman (Luke 10.18; Ezekiel 28). You see, I somehow believe that the earth, in all its glory, was created by God for the express purpose of dealing once and for all, with the problem of sin, and for that to happen, sin must reach it’s fullest potential, and Satan had to be given the fullest opportunity to practice his devilish trade; and as proof of God’s intent we read in the Revelation of John 13.8, that in fact the Lamb of God…”was slain before the foundation of the world.” Such is the eternal mind of God!

Satan is the author of sin, just as God is the Author of salvation, and Satan and his angels and all those who serve him will one day be given their climactic, eternal punishment in the place that God has prepared; and one day, Jesus and His own will be given their climactic, eternal reward for their obedience, to the glory of Father God in the place prepared for them!

Now this is pretty radical, but I believe it to be the eternal plan of God, enacted by God to once and for all, deal with the problem of sin and disobedience and pride, and to ensure that only those who truly loved and obeyed and came to Him through faith in His Son Jesus, would get to spend eternity future with Him in His heavenly dwelling-place!

You see, everything that God did, He did with purpose. Just as Jesus Himself had, and has a purpose, so Satan served those purposes, and we, His creation served those same purposes. And far be it from us, to question the “why’s and the what-for’s” of His purposes. In fact, as we read in Isaiah 55. 8,9…”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”.

We cannot know the mind of God, and I do not pretend to do-so! And it’s really no good at all to ask “why?”, because God’s logic is illogical to our faulty understanding! We only see through the glass darkly, as Paul teaches; our human minds are clouded to the Truth, with a capital “T”, so that we have believed a lie; that is Satan’s lie. And God’s logic, being different and more lofty than ours, is incomprehensible…that is, unthinkable, but it serves His eternal purposes just the same!

Now this matter of purposeful, powerful creation could begin to make some sense. God did not create His creation and then blink in surprise when they sinned! He knew exactly what to expect, because He planned it, and then put that Plan, with a capital “P”, into action!

Of course, God’s plan included many individuals, some less significant, and others much more-so. The man John, referred-to in vss. 6-8, is just such a one…the cousin of Jesus, sent to warn the people of their sins, and to encourage them to repentance. But that’s a story in itself, to be addressed in due time!

But do you know what? Because of God’s Plan, we have a Problem…and that’s where we’ll pick up next time…in Lesson 1, Part 3!